Citizens Advice Bureaux

EDM number 405 in 2008-09, proposed by Nick Herbert on 12/01/2009.
Categorised under the topic of Voluntary organisations.

That this House recognises the vital contribution of citizens advice bureaux in providing advice on debt to those in need during the recession; notes that personal debt is now the single biggest problem dealt with by bureaux; further notes that there has been a 51 per cent. increase compared to the previous year in cases involving mortgage or loan arrears, a 69 per cent. increase in redundancy cases and a 22 per cent. increase in bankruptcy cases dealt with by bureaux; is concerned that the way in which the Legal Services Commission is commissioning Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks may undermine the citizens advice bureaux network; further notes the Government's review of the funding and provision of civil legal advice; urges the consideration of a public interest test in the future commissioning process, as recommended by Citizens Advice; and believes that in the current economic downturn, and pending the outcome of its review, the Government should suspend the roll-out of Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks to ensure that citizens advice bureaux can maintain their services at a time when they are needed most.

This motion has been signed by a total of 80 MPs.